Syrian Minister Says Geneva II ‘Won’t Solve Crisis’

2014-01-19 – Damascus (AFP) — Syria’s National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar said Thursday that the so-called Geneva II peace talks slated for next week will not solve the Syrian crisis.

Speaking at a seminar in Damascus, Haidar said: “Don’t expect anything from Geneva II. Neither Geneva II, not Geneva III nor Geneva X will solve the Syrian crisis.”

He added: “The solution has begun, and will continue through the military triumph of the state… and through the staying power and resilience of the state and all its institutions, in the face of its enemies who were betting on its collapse.”

The government of President Bashar al-Assad said it will send a delegation, while the main opposition National Coalition has not yet confirmed whether it will attend the meeting. Haidar said that Geneva II will yield no results “for two reasons: the international community is not ready for it yet and the Syrian people will not be properly represented.”